People in the News: Cruz finds her camel lot in 'Sahara'

Penelope Cruz got off to a shaky start with the camel riding on the set of "Sahara." The just-opened film, based on Clive Cussler's novel, presented several challenges, but it was the bumpy beasts she found most daunting, the New York Post reports.


	Cruz

"I never thought I could go through with it. My first day I was terrified, I was so high up. I was told I had to speed up opposite a train! But the 'camel people' on the set helped, and then I couldn't stop riding. It's the best adrenaline trip!" the actress said.

She must have become a real camel convert. She appeared at the Los Angeles premiere of the film with a baby camel by her side. For a woman who's dated both Tom Cruise and Matthew McConaughey, that's an interesting choice of a companion.

Just when it seemed Tatum O'Neal was getting her life turned around, she's turned up in another bad news situation ... one the New York Post calls "A liquor-fueled lesbian rampage." O'Neal , who apparently had been drinking earlier in the evening, turned up at Pop Burger, one of those hip restaurant/lounges in NYC's Meatpacking District (well, that's what it was before it became an edgy place to live and play) about midnight and started drinking cosmopolitans. She went outside for a smoke, came back with a young woman she'd met outside and the two began exploring each others' bodies. Eventually they left, holding hands.

Madonna can't understand her children. Literally. They both attend the Lycee Francais in West London and carry on their conversations in French. Neither Madonna nor husband, Guy Ritchie can understand. The New York Post reports Guy's dad, John Ritchie, spilled the beans to a London newspaper. Madonna's representative claims the children are teaching their mother French. Tres amusant!

You've gotta love Paul Newman. He's 80. He's still into racing cars. He's still a heartthrob to women of a certain age. He told AARP Magazine: "My health is good, my knees are good, and I've got a good lady. So I have nothing to complain about ... at my age, I ought to be able to complain about something."

Donald Trump giving career advice to Cameron Diaz? This had better be good.

According to Jeanette Walls of MSNBC, The Donald says the actress seems to be spending more time on her boyfriend (Justin Timberlake) than on her career. "But I don't think it's so smart for her to keep a low profile in this business. C'mon Cameron. Get back to work. You're a terrific actress. We want to see your movies." The "You're fired!" guy should be pleased to learn Diaz has two films scheduled for release this year.

People in the News
From breakthroughs to breakups, read up on your favorite personalities

A day after her daughter was born, Elisabeth Hasselbeck called her co-hosts on ABC's "The View" to reveal the baby's name: Grace Elisabeth, The Associated Press reports. She is the first child of Hasselbeck and her husband, Tim, a Washington Redskins quarterback and brother of Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. Elisabeth is a former contestant of "Survivor: The Australian Outback."

The baby had been a frequent topic of conversation on the daytime chat fest. "We feel like we all had a baby!" exclaimed co-host Joy Behar.

-- P-I reporter Susan Phinney

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